Gainesville › Unified Land Development Code

Article 11 — Subdivisions and Land Development, Chapter 11-5 — MINOR LAND DEVELOPMENT PERMITS

current as of 2025-12-16verified current · checked 2026-08-24Officialofficial source ↗3 sections · full chapter

§ 11-5-1

Minor Land Development Permit Required

A minor land development permit may be required for small projects under 1,000 square feet of disturbed area that would otherwise not require a land development permit or preliminary plat as identified in this article, upon the discretion of the Director. For multi- family and nonresidential properties, this may include but is not limited to items such as minor tree removal, clearing and grubbing, grading, landscaping, small driveway/parking installations and small building additions located on existing impervious surface areas as determined by the Community and Economic Development Director. For single-family residential properties, this may include but is not limited to parking, patio, walkway, minor grading, minor building additions, tree removal, and retaining wall additions as determined by the Community and Economic Development Director. Regular maintenance of property including landscaping and gardening shall be exempt from these requirements. This chapter does not exempt the requirement of a separate building permit.

§ 11-5-2

General Application Requirements

Application for a minor land development permit may include the following items below as determined by the Community and Economic Development Director:

(a)Application. A properly completed application requesting review for project approval.

(b)Fees. Payment of all applicable application and review fees, as established by the governing body from time to time.

(c)Plat. A copy of the approved recorded plat of the subject property.

(d)Site plan. A site plan shall be prepared by a person familiar with land development activities. The site plan shall include at minimum the project location, total project area and all erosion and sedimentation control measures.

§ 11-5-3

Review and Approval Process

The Director of Community and Economic Development, or their designee, is responsible for administering the review and approval process for minor land disturbance permits, which shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter. The procedures of this section may be supplemented by the Director where additional specification is required.

(a)Online submittal required. Applications and plans for minor land disturbance must be submitted for review through the city’s online permitting portal.

(b)Review for completeness. The Community and Economic Development Department shall review the application for completeness. Incomplete applications will not be processed and will be returned to the applicant.

(c)Distribution and agency review. The Community and Economic Development Department shall route the plans to other city departments as may be appropriate, as well as any county departments such as Public Works for any development on a county road or Environmental Health if a septic system is proposed.

(d)Time period for completion of review. Within two weeks following distribution of the plans, each reviewing agency shall provide comments to the applicant. Once all reviews have been completed and all comments received, revised plans can be provided by the applicant. Each reviewing agency will have one week to review and provide any additional comments on such revisions. This process will be repeated until all comments by reviewing agencies have been addressed.

(e)Variances. The Community and Economic Development Department shall not approve any minor land disturbance permit that would result in a situation that would clearly require a variance, until or unless such variance is lawfully obtained.

(f)Action. When the Community and Economic Development Department has determined that the minor land disturbance plans comply with the requirements, purpose and intent of this article and code, it shall be approved. The plans shall be stamped electronically by the Community and Economic Development Department and will be accessible to the applicant on the portal. This action initiates the land development permit issuance. The owner shall be responsible for compliance with all codes, regulations and zoning requirements and for the satisfaction of all the noted and written comments.

(g)Posting and plans required. A placard shall be completed and must be picked up from the Community and Economic Development Department office for placement on the property. A physical copy or accessible digital file of the approved plans must be kept on the property at all times during land disturbance activities.

(h)Duration of approval. The minor land development permit shall remain in effect for a period of one consecutive year after which time it shall become null and void and a new certificate may be required if no development activity has begun.